Christmas Can Be a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
Lottie hopes for spending time with her loved ones during the festive period, but says a key strategy she'll cope is by wearing her noise-cancelling devices - notably for Christmas dinner.
For the 23-year-old, Christmas often feels like a especially challenging season as the sounds of other people chewing, sipping loudly and breathing heavily cause her profound anxiety.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my entire being will just tense up and it as though I'm in danger, and I need to manage these sounds."
She has lived with this condition since she was 16 and for her that causes the Christmas time "incredibly overwhelming".
Misophonia is a decreased threshold to specific noises, notably sounds coming from individuals.
It is prevalent across the population. A study reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Frequently it's sounds associated with bodily functions that trigger a reaction, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
'Anxiety Inducing'
The sufferer notes: "I face so many various auditory triggers at Christmas and that can be anxiety inducing and make you want to avoid it.
"Those close to me are understanding, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to upset others. It's like a internal conflict of enduring my distress to ensure everyone else is happy."
So it's obvious why the traditionally happy period can transform into a source of agony for those with the condition.
Sounds that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, unwrapping gifts, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can provoke a powerful reaction that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
Jenna, a young adult, who has struggled with misophonia since aged 10, explains currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Typically, she would usually isolate herself in a separate space to avoid problematic noises.
She explains her condition is more intense around people she's most familiar with, so Christmas is always "difficult".
"There is pressure to be around family, and I want to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage comes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel stressed and immediately start crying and then panic will kick in.
"It can come across as if I'm being oversensitive and overreacting, but it's difficult to convey without firsthand experience."
A Few Techniques to Cope
If you suffer then there are a few methods you can use to handle the situation, based on advice from clinical psychologists.
- Visualise an Alternative: Creative thinking is key. Try to associate the specific noise affecting you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's noisy drinking is just a waterfall. The goal is to help your brain learn that the sound affecting you poses no threat.
- Use Humor: Use lightheartedness and make the irritating noise into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is eating noisily have a go at mimicking the sound. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is unwanted, you become an willing part. And the challenge should help redirect your focus and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Craft a Story: Another technique is to try to fabricate an explanation about the reason someone creating the sound is behaving that way. For example if someone was sniffing, perhaps they're not at their best or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. While the sound stays the same, your understanding of it changes from being aggravating, to feeling a bit more accepting towards it.
